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In it for the love of the game

Lightning wing Gordie Dwyer's enjoyment on-ice is evident in his style of play.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 30, 2002

TAMPA -- Gordie Dwyer loves playing hockey. Forget the NHL for a second. Forget the money.

The Lightning left wing loves it so much, he told his teammates so during a meeting before Tampa Bay's Jan. 18 game against the Blackhawks.

It wasn't a solo stand-up. Every player had a chance to say his piece. But Dwyer's message was one that, every now and then, a team needs to hear.

"It was a message of how I see the game," Dwyer said. "Enjoy the game. Enjoy the situation we're in. We're playing in the NHL and having fun. We should make the best of it."

"Just go out and enjoy it," defenseman Grant Ledyard said. "Gordie epitomizes that. He wants to play. He wants to put on skates and slap a puck into an empty net and enjoy himself. I think that gets lost on a lot of guys."

It never seems lost on Dwyer, the 24-year-old from Dalhousie, New Brunswick, who makes the most of every minute on the ice.

The time is not always generous. As a fourth-line grinder, Dwyer averages 5 minutes, 37 seconds. He played 11:13 Saturday against the Islanders, but just 2:42 Monday against the Rangers.

Even if you don't immediately realize he has gone over the boards, the inevitable glass-rattling body check gives him away.

Dwyer is averaging 1.7 hits, tied for third on the team with defenseman Nolan Pratt, who averaged 19:38 of ice time before breaking a leg.

He also is one of the first to stand up for his teammates. Just 3:23 into Monday's game, he fought Rangers defenseman Dale Puritan for running forward Dave Andreychuk.

"You always know what you're going to get with Gordie," coach John Tortorella said. "He's an effort guy. ... He's not the most gifted athlete, but he has something we need to get back to as a team, and that's grit and determination."

"I play hard and I try to appreciate everything I have," Dwyer said. "I deserve to play here and I have to prove that every night."

The proving began this season at AHL Springfield. His second call-up came Dec. 15 and he has played 13 consecutive games. But it wasn't just his willingness to hit and fight that prompted his promotion, though the traits are admirable.

With the loss of speedy forward Brian Holzinger to a shoulder injury, Dwyer's skating and persistent forecheck, an aspect of Tampa Bay's game that has been spotty, were just as important.

He has even gotten an occasional turn on the power play, a message from Tortorella that effort will be rewarded.

Still, when you think of Dwyer, you think of fights. His 52 penalty minutes in 19 games is 13 fewer than team-leader Pavel Kubina has earned in 52.

And it is worth mentioning that, if extrapolated over an 82-game season, the 135 penalty minutes Dwyer earned in 24 games in 1999-00 would increase to 461, just 11 behind Dave Schultz's NHL record.

"I just go out and play hard," said Dwyer, who has two assists this season, four in his career and no goals. "My main thing is to be active on the forecheck and skate hard and finish my hits. The rough stuff happens when you play like that."

The rough stuff includes a memorable Jan. 21 game against the Devils. In 54 seconds of first-period ice time, Dwyer had two fights credited by teammates for sparking them to a 3-2 victory.

Dwyer, 6 feet 3, 215, even held his own Jan. 4 in Chicago against renowned heavyweight Bob Probert, and goaded him into a slashing penalty as well.

"I don't think I'm paid to win them, and it doesn't matter as much as (team) wins and losses," Dwyer said. "It's just a question of going out there and playing hard and being that guy that you know will come out and finish his hits.

"It's not to be a big scare or a threat on the ice. It's just a question of being a guy they know is coming every time."

It is a message worth repeating.

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